With 326 days of sunshine, 27 km of beaches, 40 golf courses, fast cars, opulent yachts, glitz and glamour, sensational food and wine, an edgy club scene and colourful local festivals, Marbella is one of Europe's favourite playgrounds. For fast cars, mega yachts, designer shops visit Puerto Banus, for history, culture and cheap tapas try old town Marbella. For exclusive beach clubs you can try Nikki Beach in Elviria, Ocean Club in Puerto Banus or Buddha Beach in Nueva Andalucia (very close to Puerto Banus).

Area information

Here is a quick overview of the most popular areas surrounding Marbella: Puerto Banús is a large and lively leisure port that houses mega yachts, upscale restaurants, designer boutiques and lots of clubs and bars. San Pedro de Alcántara is a typically Spanish town with traditional restaurants and bars; it has a popular beach promenade for walking and cycling. Nueva Andalucía is very close to Puerto Banús, and is a residential area popular with English expats. East of Marbella is El Rosario, a small residential area with some good beach bars (chiringuitos) and a few restaurants. Elviria is a very nice residential area with one of the best beaches, a small selection of bars, restaurants, golf courses, shops and supermarkets. Cabopino is a quiet residential area that has a lovely, quaint leisure port, an 18 hole golf course and a good selection of bars and restaurants.

Stylish Places to Stay

Looking to stay somewhere stylish, hip, chic and cool, or just want to enjoy some good old fashioned international luxury? You will not be disappointed. Although there are many 5 star hotels in Marbella, we only recommend a very small selection that we consider to be of a high enough standard. If you are looking for somewhere other than a hotel, we can recommend some luxury villas, modern stylish apartments or, for something totally out of this world, why not try staying on a yacht in any one of the leisure ports which include Puerto Banus, Marbella port and small and quaint Cabopino port?

About

Marbella lies at the southwestern end of the Mediterranean coastline of Andalusia, largest of Spain´s provinces and nearest to Africa. The spectacular La Concha mountain behind Marbella creates a microclimate with a special bonus: year-round sunshine. Puerto Banús, the ultimate recreational port, is 15 mins drive from the 2,000-year-old town centre.

Must see and do

Breakfast: churros (fritters) with hot chocolate, Plaza de los Naranjos. Explore the old town’s fascinating maze of cobbled streets and shops. Check out the world-class vessels anchored in Puerto Banús; petrolheads, feast your eyes on the lineup of expensive cars also to be found in Puerto Banús! Laze and lunch the day away at Buddha Beach, Marbella’s latest boutique beach club.

Hilltop Ronda, the white villages on the old smugglers' route in the Genal Valley. Sotogrande for polo, sailing, shopping, market. Sherry-tasting tour round the dusky Jerez cellars of Domecq, González Byass. Watersports on Tarifa´s endless Atlantic beaches. A day out at Mijas horse races. Motorcycle racing, Jerez. Córdoba, visit the most important Arab town in European history. Granada, the fabulous Alhambra palace. Seville, the heart of Andalucia. Málaga, the Picasso Museum.

Pilates sessions, full menu of beauty treatments at a dozen hotel spas around town - Villa Padierna for a square km of different mood spas; Finca Cortesín for Spain’s only snow cave. Physiotherapy at Bodyworks, Cancelada. Hair, nails, skin care at all major hotels and Jacques Dessange, Reflections.

Security: Marbella is generally a very safe place and family friendly. During the summer months, watch out for pickpockets and petty thieves. Tips: 10-15% in restaurants. Taxi drivers don't expect tips. Dress code: At beachside or poolside restaurants, shirt or pareu over swimwear. Relaxed chic in upmarket restaurants. Cover ups in the cooler evenings from November to February.